“What is it?” Qin Yunchuan asked with amusement. Mianmian rolled her eyes and shook her head, a mischievous smile on her lips.
This matter… was best told to Gu Xu.
From now on, he would spend more time with Mianmian, ensuring she wouldn’t keep talking to plants as if they were people. Hearing her constantly mention conversing with plants had begun to worry him about her mental state.
The three of them headed to the hospital. While the nurse treated Gu Xu’s injuries, Mianmian and Qin Yunchuan waited outside.
“Big Brother, why didn’t Gu Xu resist?” Mianmian asked. Though she had only known Gu Xu a short while, she felt he wasn’t someone who would quietly endure abuse.
“The Gu patriarch has his mother’s heirloom in his hands,” Qin Yunchuan explained. It was the only way Gu Xu’s father could control him. Without it, Gu Xu wouldn’t just take a beating.
Mianmian’s eyes blazed with indignation. How shameless the Gu patriarch was! She couldn’t just watch Gu Xu suffer.
After a short while, the nurse came out. Mianmian stepped into the room, where Gu Xu, now dressed, was sitting on the bed.
“You rest first. I’ll go get the medicine,” Qin Yunchuan said.
Left alone in the room, Mianmian poured a glass of water for Gu Xu and climbed onto the bed to gently lift his shirt.
“Gu Xu, does it still hurt?”
“A little,” Gu Xu replied, smiling as he held the cup.
Mianmian leaned close. “I’ll blow on it, Gu Xu, so it won’t hurt anymore.” She exhaled softly. Gu Xu chuckled—if simple blowing helped, why even need doctors?
A cool sensation brushed his back, and the smile on his face froze.
Huh?
Gu Xu turned slightly.
“Does it still hurt, Gu Xu?”
He moved his arms and found the pain had lessened considerably. Even with medicine before, the burn-like pain had been intense. But after Mianmian’s gentle blowing, it eased.
Grinning, Gu Xu scooped her up and laughed, “Little Mianmian, you’re my little lucky star.”
Mianmian blushed, embarrassed but overjoyed at the praise.
She liked Gu Xu. Her small hands grasped his large ones. Gu Xu thought she was just playing, but Mianmian stared at him seriously.
“Gu Xu, what are you doing? I’m not playing! I have something to tell you… and also… you’re acting so childish!”
She pouted, showing mild disdain.
Gu Xu squeezed her fingers gently. “Alright, I’m childish. So, Mianmian, what do you want to tell me?” His voice softened.
“I can help you find your mother’s heirloom, Gu Xu.”
The smile faded from Gu Xu’s face. This must have been told to her by Yunchuan. Over the years, he had used every resource he had, yet could never find his mother’s heirloom.
And now… this little girl offered to help?
Gu Xu knew she meant well.
“Alright, I trust you can do it.”
Mianmian noticed his skepticism. Hmph! She was determined to give Gu Xu a huge surprise.
Before that, she mentioned Tianlei Stone, Silver Heart Lotus, Nine-Jointed Lingzhi, Blood-Soul Ginseng!
As a doctor, Gu Xu knew these were extremely rare herbs—but he had never seen them. Curiosity piqued, he asked, “Mianmian, where did you hear about these?”
“A wise person told me. He said these herbs can cure you, Gu Xu. I want to find them to save you. Can you keep this secret from Big Brother?”
She wanted to give Gu Xu a grand surprise. But Gu Xu wondered if Mianmian worried that, if she couldn’t find them, Qin Yunchuan would be disappointed.
Would these herbs truly work against Yunchuan’s poison? That was unknown.
Gu Xu nodded. “I promise you.”
Finding these herbs would not be easy.
While chatting with Gu Xu, Qin Yunchuan returned with the medicine. Both of them fell silent. He raised an eyebrow—they had a secret.
“You’ll stay a few more days at the hospital. Once your injuries are better, you can be discharged. Mianmian and I will go ahead.”
“Bye-bye, little Mianmian!”
Mianmian waved as the hospital room door closed. Qin Yunchuan bent down and picked her up. “What were you talking about with Gu Xu?”
“Hehe, it’s a little secret between Gu Xu and me. Big Brother… I need your help with something.”
She kept her secret from him. Qin Yunchuan felt a twinge of jealousy. That little Gu Xu wouldn’t steal his sister away!
“What help?”
“Big Brother, I’m going to the Gu mansion to get Gu Xu’s mother’s heirloom for him.”
Qin Yunchuan hadn’t expected this.
He stared at Mianmian. “Really?”
“Uh-huh, truer than pearls!”
“Good.”
“Hehe… Big Brother is the best.”
The surprise for Gu Xu was about to come. Qin Yunchuan decided to bet on whether Mianmian’s words were true.
His little sister seemed to have become part of something incredible without realizing it.
Mianmian hugged Qin Yunchuan as they returned home. When she woke up again, she found herself in bed, the covers soft and fluffy. She lifted them, eyes lighting up.
“Kitty… kitty… you’ve finally grown!” She held up her little tabby, kissing it as it mewed loudly.
[Let go! I can’t breathe!]
Mianmian immediately released it, giggling as she stroked its fur.
The tabby was now clean, vaccinated, and dewormed—very hygienic.
She missed the kitty so much. Hugging it, she chattered about all the events that happened while it wasn’t around.
After getting out of bed, Mianmian carried the tabby downstairs. She didn’t see Qin Yunchuan but noticed an unexpected visitor.
“What are you doing in my house?”
Last time, Big Brother said she wasn’t allowed to come again. Why had Qin Tongtong come?
Mianmian didn’t understand.
Wearing a princess dress, Qin Tongtong proudly lifted her chin. “Of course, Third Brother brought me back. Qin Mianmian, Third Brother likes me the most!”
Mianmian hugged her tabby and faced Qin Tongtong. From her memory, Third Brother did indeed like Qin Tongtong, not her. Her little heart ached.
Surely these were leftover feelings from the old Mianmian. Clutching the tabby tightly, her face betrayed her disappointment.
Across from her, Qin Tongtong smirked arrogantly. “Qin Mianmian, you were born unlucky. You killed your own mother, bringing misfortune to your whole family. It’s all your fault. You should disappear forever.”
The vicious words shocked Mianmian.
Hearing them pained her deeply. She retorted, “My mother isn’t dead! She’ll come back!”
“Hmph. If she can’t be found, she’s dead. Today, I’ll show you who the real little princess of this family is.”
Qin Tongtong laughed triumphantly—then she caught sight of someone entering!